I’m huge fan of Clear, the list-making app for iOS and Mac. You can use it to create lists of anything such as tasks, reminders, and notes. I use it primarily to manage my grocery list and frankly, I think it’s one of the best uses of the app.
If you’re the type to create a grocery list before you head out to buy some food, Clear simplifies the task in several ways. First, whenever you swipe an item off your list, it stays there unless you delete altogether. The great thing about this is that when it comes time to go grocery shopping again, you can revisit your list and “unswipe” items and easily recreate your list. No need to add items from scratch on subsequent visits. After a couple trips, you would have compiled a relatively comprehensive list of the food you buy the most.
Another reason why Clear is such a great companion when you’re shopping for groceries is that it doesn’t come with all the bells and whistles you might find in other grocery list apps. If you have your phone in one hand, checking off items as you go, the app shouldn’t get in your way whatsoever. Items are so easy to swipe with their large surface area; even your clumsiest efforts is sufficient to get the job done.
When I made the switch to Android recently, you could imagine how sad I felt that Clear did not have an Android app. I searched and searched for alternatives to no avail. I tried Grocery IQ, Evernote, and a host of others I’ve now forgotten. Nothing came close, until I tried Google Keep.
Yes, Google’s poorly timed note-taking app that debut amidst the Google Reader debacle is actually a decent note-taking app. Is it better than Evernote? Unfortunately, comparing it to Evernote is like comparing Notepad with Microsoft Office.
But, how am I going to transfer over my grocery list over to Keep? I wondered. Clear answered that today with their newest update which includes a feature that lets you email your lists. Apparently, it is one of their most requested features. I never would’ve known.
Anyhow, I emailed myself the grocery list I have on Clear and copied it over to Google Keep. A little bit of formatting work later, I now have a fairly close replacement for Clear on Android. By using a checkbox list in Keep, I can preserve items for the future which was my most important concern. One downside I’ve noticed though is that checked-off items aren’t sent to the bottom. This is a tad bit annoying since that means I have to check the entire list just to make sure I didn’t miss anything.
Well, there you have it. I finally found a use for Google Keep, even if it there is a good chance Google might decide to shut down the service one year from now.